Meta CTO shares tips on how employees can ask managers for help, says he loves emails showing progress

There are times when employees need their managers’ help, but struggle to approach them. After all, things at a workplace are quite dynamic and it is hard to judge how a problem will be perceived in the cabin.

However, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth might just have a solution to your problem.

In an interview with “Lenny’s Podcast,” the Meta CTO shared how he appreciates emails that talk about the progress that has been made instead of those that only list the problems. Bosworth also elaborated on the importance of communication and said that nobody wants employees to be more “awesome” than their managers.

In the interview, Bosworth suggested that instead of going to your boss with a problem, send a short email with 5-10 sentences. He added how he “loves a 5-10 sentence email explaining where progress has been made.”

In this email, he advised sharing with the manager about the progress you’ve made and if you’ve encountered any challenges. He then said that everything is going well, your manager doesn’t need to respond. But if there’s a chance to improve, it gives your boss a chance to guide you early on.

He then added that these types of emails not only keep your boss informed but also help them understand what you’re working on, making it easier for them to support you later. However, asking for help every time doesn’t mean your boss will solve every problem. At times, Bosworth explained, the most powerful thing a manager can do is step back and let you handle a challenge.

Bosworth also talked about the importance of communication, saying that he’d rather know about issues early on than discover a project that went wrong after six months. He encouraged employees to speak up along the way and not to see their job as doing everything themselves but rather getting the job done competently, even if that means asking for help.

He also reassured that managers are there to support employees and are rooting for their success.

“Nobody wants you to be more awesome than your manager does,” he said.

The Meta CTO also shared his experience of working with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the interview. He said that when Mark Zuckerberg designates an employee to work on the most critical project at Meta, he pays meticulous attention to every detail, no matter how small.

Referring to the popular fictional film Lord of the Rings, Bosworth then compared the situation to being under the “Eye of Sauron.” He added that it is one of the two highly advantageous places in your career. Bosworth suggested that if you have the chance to work on the most crucial project, seize it. Even if you get a smaller piece of the puzzle, being part of something essential is highly sought after.

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